Rancho Santa Fe residents lead college foundation

COAST CITIES — The MiraCosta College Foundation has elected Rancho Santa Fe resident David Broad as its new president, and Rancho Santa Fe resident Connie Matsui as a new board member. Both Broad and Matsui are retired biotechnology industry executives.
Broad has more than 30 years experience in the biopharmaceutical field, and from 2005 until 2008 was the general manager and vice president of Genentech’s Oceanside manufacturing campus. Broad holds a B.S. and a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of London.
From 2000 to 2005, Broad was employed at Biogen Idec and served as the vice president of West Coast Manufacturing. While in this position, Broad worked closely with MiraCosta to establish the college’s nationally-recognized Biotechnology Center and Bioprocessing Technician Program. Shortly after the opening of the Biotechnology Center, Broad attended a MiraCosta foundation event and heard a young woman speak about a scholarship she had received while at the college.
“She said that the $500 she got from the foundation was what enabled her to get her nursing degree,” Broad said. “I thought to myself, that’s a great return on investment. I already had a very strong belief that everyone should have the right to have an affordable education, but it was this student’s experience that convinced me to get involved in raising money for scholarships.”
Broad’s passion for the work the foundation does on behalf of students is what led Connie Matsui to recently join the foundation board of directors.
“I became involved with the foundation as a result of my friendship with and deep respect for David Broad,” Matsui said. “David and I share a strong belief in the power of education in changing lives.”
Matsui has recently retired from her position as executive vice president of Knowledge Innovation Networks for Biogen Idec, Inc. She served in several positions at Idec Pharmaceuticals, including senior vice president, overseeing investor relations, corporate communications, human resources, project management and strategic planning. Matsui has been active on a number of not-for-profit boards and served as National President of the Girl Scouts of the USA from 1999 to 2002. Matsui earned a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.
“The more I learn about the college, its unique position in the community and in the community college system, as well as the leadership of both the college and the foundation, the more impressed I become — and the more honored I am to be an active supporter of its goals and vision.”
Founded in 1966, the MiraCosta College Foundation receives and administers private gifts, bequests and donations to benefit MiraCosta College students and to enhance the quality of education at the college. The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors that represents the communities served by the MiraCosta College District.
For more information about the foundation, or for contact information for David Broad or Connie Matsui, contact Linda Fogerson at (760) 795-6775 or lfogerson@miracosta.edu.